Sunday, November 01, 2009

. . . on the evening of November 10, 1775, at a slop chute called Tun Tavern, in the city of Philadelphia, the first Marine to have been recruited by Captain Sam Nicholas was enjoying the tankard of ale he had received as his "enlistment bonus" when a second fellow, carrying two tankards of ale, sat down across the table from him.

"Can you beat that!" said the second fellow, wiping his lips after nearly draining the first tankard in one swallow. "That fellow over there," he said, pointing at Nicholas, "promised me a chance at travel and adventure, not to mention service, in this new outfit - he called it the 'Continental Marines' - and said I'd earn a bonus of two tankards of ale for signing up."

Some say the first Marine curled his lip, gave his new companion a disapproving look, and said, "You new guys have no idea how things were like in the Old Corps!"

. . . on the evening of November 10, 1775, at a slop chute called Tun Tavern, in the city of Philadelphia, the first Marine to have been recruited by Captain Sam Nicholas was enjoying the tankard of ale he had received as his "enlistment bonus" when a second fellow, carrying two tankards of ale, sat down across the table from him.

"Can you beat that!" said the second fellow, wiping his lips after nearly draining the first tankard in one swallow. "That fellow over there," he said, pointing at Nicholas, "promised me a chance at travel and adventure, not to mention service, in this new outfit - he called it the 'Continental Marines' - and said I'd earn a bonus of two tankards of ale for signing up."

Some say the first Marine curled his lip, gave his new companion a disapproving look, and said, "You new guys have no idea how things were like in the Old Corps!"